Dear Readers,
It is Thursday the 13th of May (luckily not Friday the 13th right, Jason?….? ) and we are here with PCW again.
The past week has been quite ok here in Stockholm, and finally the weather has turned for the better with summer-like temperatures hovering about 18-20 for a few days—which, of course, for some of you is winter-like, but for us northerners is pleasant.
I have even begun looking for opportunities to fly to some of the very overdue destinations that I have on my radar including: Hamburg, Malta, Dubai, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Kota Kinabalu, Perth, Sydney, New York, etc., but taking a trip like that—which I happily could do in the past, staying a few days each place—is at least, as far as I can tell, still not really possible as the rules & regulations about quarantine, etc. are different at each destination. A former colleague of mine is right now stuck for his 3rd week in Beijing before he can proceed to Jiangsu Province, China for some business meetings, so although my mind is wandering, I also don’t want to get stuck anywhere.
My son in New York at the young age of 32 already has gotten his 2nd vaccination, whilst I—being 26 years older here in Sweden—still got only one and must wait another 6 weeks for the next one. Still it is, in a way, a zero sum game: we are not really secure until we are ALL secure.
On the news front shipping-wise, I noticed that the Suez Canal Authority reduced their “ransom” demand by 1/3 which I am sure is a step in the right direction but far from enough, and I believe most of the shipping community worldwide is appalled by the blatant extortion that seems to be going on concerning this matter. Accidents do happen, but the knee jerk reaction is first to find someone to blame. I believe that culture mainly started in the US as the country certainly isn’t lacking lawyers and ambulance chasers. I still recall seeing posters when I was a teenager visiting there saying: “Did someone hurt you? Were you injured in an accident? Call……and we will get you the best compensation!”
If accidents become business and not a matter of understanding the pros and cons of life, then we are certainly on a downward trajectory. It doesn’t mean that no one ever is to be held accountable, but accidents DO happen. You cannot always only enjoy the income; sometimes there is a loss, too, if you understand what I mean. In other words, it costs money to earn money!
Here in Scandinavia we do have quite a lot of common sense, but in some areas, particularly in banking, no one so far has been held accountable for knowing about money laundering and what not. Instead, golden parachutes have been handed out without failure, so yes, the nomenclature as we know from Russia and other “one party states” is evident here, too.
Speaking of which, recently OLAF, the anti-corruption unit of the EU, fined one Danish politician for the misuse of funds of about USD 15,000, but it took them 5 years to get to it. Talk about “efficiency” for your tax dollars……
On the shipping front, we start off in the country of the Rand, and here I don’t mean the Rand Corporation but rather the currency and a country of extremes but also beauty, i.e., South Africa. The Dutch-owned company C. STEINWEG in Jo’burg tells us an interesting story about mining/energy and the warehousing and logistics involved in this.
We then visit a country known for both modern style but also very old habits and wedged in between Europe and Asia; I of course mean Turkey. The shipping agency and logistics provider BATI GROUP tells us more.
Finally, we turn to a country of great ancient history and certainly a bunch of wise people (at least in former times), and here I refer to the great country of Greece. We remind you about an interview we did with DELPA SHIPPING & TRANSPORT who are reliable as an option in Greece and beyond.
Reminding you, as usual of course, that we provide shipping news and trade intelligence. Also note that you can now listen to our interviews without watching the videos even on our app (download here). Plus our wise words and featured video and picture of the week.
Until next week, we remain,
Yours sincerely,
Bo H. Drewsen
bo.drewsen@projectcargo-weekly.com
Video Interview
C. Steinweg Group – Africa
Michelle Tinkhof, Managing Director at C. Steinweg Bridge (Pty) Ltd and Gerald Povey, Director- Projects, Mining & Energy at C. Steinweg Group were interviewed by PCW.
Video Interview
Bati Group – Turkey
Mehmet Erman Atik, Project Director at BATI Group of Shipping Companies was interviewed by PCW
Delpa Shipping & Transport Co. Ltd, in Greece
Interview with
Mr. Kostas Kritikos
Chief Operating Officer
Are you focusing mainly on business in Greece or do you also handle international assignments such as cross trade, for example between countries not physically involving Greece?
It is for sure our main goal to remain well-established within the local market, but I cannot say it is our primary one. I believe it is not that wise in terms of long-term sustainability and development of a company doing business in a small market like Greece (especially during such a difficult economical period) to be based on a limited “trading area”.
Sea Trial Completed for Hospital Ship Global Mercy
Editor’s Note:
Good to see that there is a new hospital ship soon to enter service. We need to remember that there are people around the world worse off than ourselves, and we perhaps need from time to time to wake up and actually be happy with what we’ve got (especially in the so-called “developed world”).
At the request of the charity organisation Mercy Ships, Stena RoRo is building the Global Mercy – the world´s largest civilian hospital ship. With Global Mercy the organisation will double its capacity to bring healthcare to the poorest of the poor. The ship is planned to start operating in 2022.
Egypt Offers to Cut Ever Given Compensation Claim to $600 Million
Editor’s Note:
Although they have now reduced the sum, in our view the SCA (Suez Canal Authority) is still asking for an exorbitant sum of money for the accidental (?) grounding of the Ever Given. Indeed a horror story overall and a reminder that if anything goes wrong in Egypt, beware…..
Egypt offered to reduce claims by a third for compensation from owners of the container ship that blocked the Suez Canal in March, Suez Canal Authority Chairman Osama Rabie told MBC Masr channel television channel. The canal authority said it would reduce the claims for compensation to $600 million from $900 million, according to Rabie. The SCA also offered payment terms to owners of the Ever Given.
UECC High, Heavy & Breakbulk Presentation
Editor’s Note:
Moving high and heavy and project cargo intra-Europe can sometimes be a challenge as the shorter distances do sometimes pose a problem, but one solution might be the RORO services of UECC based in Norway. See their introduction here as part of a webinar they posted recently.
PACC Line Project Schedule
Editor’s Note:
PACC Line, I believe, is not that well-known to many of our readers. So without being prompted by PACC Line, I am happy to give our readers a view as to what kind of services in the market they can offer for breakbulk and project cargoes. They cover quite interesting trade lanes and with every container carrier being full, alternatives are needed.
Asia to Americas Breakbulk & Project Service
http://www.pacc.com.sg/route_page/asia-to-americas-breakbulk-project-service/
Americas to Asia Service
http://www.pacc.com.sg/route_page/americas-to-asia-service/
Far East Asia to Conti Service
http://www.pacc.com.sg/route_page/oceania-asia-service/
Trans Pacific EB / WB Service
http://www.pacc.com.sg/route_page/trans-pacific-trade-routes/
Trans-Atlantic EB / WB Service
http://www.pacc.com.sg/route_page/trans-atlantic-trade-routes/
Website: www.pacc.com.sg
YPFB Signs an Agreement with ECEBOL of Potosí for the Provision of Natural Gas
The president of Bolivian Fiscal Oil Fields (YPFB), Wilson Zelaya, signed an agreement this afternoon with the general manager of Empresa Pública Productiva Cementos de Bolivia (ECEBOL), Fátima Pacheco, for the construction of a primary gas network natural, which will supply the hydrocarbon to this plant. In addition, the project will have a social impact that will benefit Potosí and Chuquisaca. The Deputy Minister of Industrialization, Marketing, Transportation and Storage of Hydrocarbons, William Donaire, was present at the event.
Nucor to Build New Tube Mill in Kentucky near its Gallatin Sheet Mill
Nucor Corporation (NYSE: NUE) announced today that it will build its new tube mill on the site of its Nucor Steel Gallatin sheet mill in Kentucky. This location will allow the Company to take advantage of investments the Company has made to expand capacity of the Gallatin mill and add a galvanizing line. The $164 million investment project is expected to be in operation by the middle of 2023 and create more than 70 new full-time jobs.
RigQuip, Zamil to Set-up Drilling Equipment Plant in Saudi Arabia
Global drilling equipment service group RigQuip Drilling Services has signed an agreement with Zamil Shipyards to set up its drilling equipment service facility in Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
Launched in 2006, RigQuip is a privately owned business, which specialises in drilling equipment, engineering, service and parts, and has a global presence with operations in the UK, UAE, Singapore, US and Mexico.
BIA Group and Metso Outotec Expand Distribution Partnership to Africa
“This distribution agreement extension for West and Central Africa demonstrates the willingness of BIA and Metso Outotec to strengthen their historical partnership that started over 90 years ago with Nordberg for Belgium,” says Vincent Bia, the CEO of BIA Group. “Since then, both companies have continuously developed their products and services to gain unrivalled expertise that serves both the aggregates and mining customers. We are confident that BIA’s market knowledge and local presence together with Metso Outotec’s solutions and technologies will form complementary assets to meet the ever-growing customer needs.“
The BIA group is active in the sale and service of equipment for construction, public works, mining, quarrying, energy, recycling and transport. In addition to sales, rental and after-sales, the BIA group is a service partner that supports its customers at every stage of their project with personalized management and support. The BIA group is present in the Benelux as well as in more than 20 countries in Africa. BIA employs more than 1000 people, including more than 800 engineers and technicians.
A Clear Shot of a Rainbow in the Indian Ocean Onboard CMA CGM Georgia
Editor’s Note:
Onboard the CMA CGM Georgia in the Indian Ocean enroute to Fremantle, I spotted this rainbow whilst being a passenger onboard and standing on the port side bridge wing.
With Covid19 gone, hopefully we can travel as passengers on board cargo ships again!
Editor’s Note:
Visited the port of Kokkola, Northern Finland last week, and unbeknownst to me was that millions of tonnes of iron ore pellets are exported from Russia via this Finnish port regularly. Here one of the bulkers in port loading during my visit.
For further information about the Port of Kokkola, write an email to: agency@rauanheimo.com who are strong locally as shipping agents!
